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100% Irrigation: A Comprehensive Guide to Maintaining It
When it comes to maintaining a lush, vibrant landscape, you can’t do it without proper irrigation. That being said, getting your system to achieve maximum efficiency is no easy task, especially when you’re unfamiliar with irrigation systems.
Down below is a comprehensive guide to understanding your system, the importance of regular inspections, and some troubleshooting tips for common irrigation issues. You’re one read away from 100% irrigation.
Understanding Your System to Maintain 100% Irrigation
Sprinklers & Valves
Let’s begin by introducing the most common parts of your irrigation system and what they do. Sprinklers and valves distribute the flow of water over large areas and control the amount that’s being spread. Just like a garden hose, the sprinkler is the part of your irrigation system that you can see spraying the water, and the valves are the knobs you turn to allow for a lighter or heavier flow.
Controllers & Sensors
Controllers and sensors help you automate your watering schedule. They control the time of irrigation, a section of the landscape being watered, and the type of water being used to water the space. The controllers decide what part of the landscape is being watered and when according to how they’re set. The sensors will adjust watering practices to work with weather and soil conditions.
The Importance of Regular Inspection in Maintaining 100% Irrigation
As you can probably guess, regular inspections of your system are crucial to maintaining 100% irrigation. Many problems can arise from a failing system, whether it be drainage issues, water overconsumption, or otherwise. You can get ahead of many of these issues with occasional maintenance, but after several seasons of use, you really want to keep an eye out for the bigger issues. Here are some things to look for:
- Leaks: Pooling water or unusually green patches of grass are telltale signs of an irrigation leak. Broken Sprinklers: You want to ensure that sprinkler heads both pop-up and retract correctly.
- Missing Valves: Valves tend to get buried or lost, so you want to ensure that all are accounted for.
- Controller Settings: You want to ensure that your settings match seasonal requirements. You don’t want to ruin your yard by over- or under-watering, and you also want to make sure your water use complies with local regulations.
- Pressure Testing: Drops in pressure can indicate leaks, so if you identify a drop in pressure, you can begin to narrow down where the leak is. You want to do so as quickly as possible to avoid landscape damage and water waste.
- Soil Moisture Sensors: In a similar vein, if your sensors are detecting unusually high moisture levels, this could also indicate a leak in your system.
- Smart Controllers: You can also invest in modern smart controllers that use water usage patterns to alert you to potential leaks.
Valve Locators
A missing valve can disrupt your entire irrigation system, so you want to locate and address missing valves as soon as possible. Modern technology has lent itself to the creation of electronic valve locators that can help you find buried valves. However, you can also refer to the original maps and plans to find the system layout for investigation.
However, it’s not uncommon to have to hire a professional to help with this, especially if the missing valve leads to more complicated problems in your system. Proper maintenance of your system can help avoid the constant need for repairs, which can look like:
- Replacing worn nozzles
- Cleaning and replacing faulty valves
- Investing in specialized leak detection equipment
- Ensuring your controller’s firmware settings are up to date